"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hoping to sneak a second one in after this. 🤞
We did, and even got the sheep onto a bit of it for a preliminary 3rd grazing. Just needed that fine browntop leaf taken off, because of the way I set up the calf grazing I didn't have as much pressure on them and I feared I'd be pushing the sward compostion the wrong way if I didn't take it down evenly 🤷‍♂️
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Tyedyetom

Member
Livestock Farmer
We did, and even got the sheep onto a bit of it for a preliminary 3rd grazing. Just needed that fine browntop leaf taken off, because of the way I set up the calf grazing I didn't have as much pressure on them and I feared I'd be pushing the sward compostion the wrong way if I didn't take it down evenly 🤷‍♂️View attachment 909720
What would have happened if you didn’t graze down evenly with this sward?
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
What would have happened if you didn’t graze down evenly with this sward?
We'll find out, with a lot of it.

I noticed there were a lot of little buttercups creeping out of the corners of the cells where the soil had been overimpacted, a bit of pugging damage (which I put seed on ahead of the sheep, it was purposely mauled) and a general tendency towards fine-leafed grass species like crested dogstail - the cattle didn't really graze it that low and so they'd kind-of missed those species entirely.
The sheep got into it though!

Should give the cocksfoot an equal chance.
 

Karliboy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Yorkshire
Ended up deciding to cut another 3 acres of free 2nd cut grass in that silly steep field that I get on Monday night baled it Tuesday very green before rain. last cut 19th July I normally only take 1 cut off it and leave it at that to grow back in over winter as I can’t get stock to it but there was loads on it this time so I’ve robbed it but will put some muck on this year and give it 9 months to recover
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10 bales in total
There was a bit off a crappy 3/4 bale of the steep bit with a bit of soil from moles so put that out to cows on a steep mossy patch and spread out to rummage through see what happens.
Will probably feed these bales straight out outside as cows will crap thin off it so better off outside rather than inside when trying to keep things dry.
F8067E53-13CD-49BB-BFC8-8AC6BB53A074.jpeg

In the holistic context of things of making things easier the new geared reels arrived. Seem decent enough
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And bought a calving gate to go in another shed where I don’t have any yokes.
Had to many near misses with cows moving around with calving aid out the back.
Safety comes first now.
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I need to have a proper study now around the farm to make things as easy and quick as possible for a one man band.
Main reason being is that pops (my main help) is going to have isolate a lot more now as my kid brother has just been informed his brain cancer has returned for the 3rd time so is going through some more chemo treatment over winter and he’s his main carer so need to keep him away from as many bugs as possible.
Plus I’ve got a young family now so even the misses can’t help right much as she has the little one to look after.
Main problem is the weekly muck out of the cow shed which is a 2 man job.
 

hendrebc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Thank you!
I think we may end up with the hoggs in the hothouse just to keep that chill off them if it snows - folk thought Alex was mad putting it in but it's worth it's weight sometimes!
I hate lambing indoors but lambing outside in snow or sleet is worse. Older ewes you would probably get away with but hoggs is jistt asking for trouble with you have somewhere you can put them under cover for a day or two.
 

hendrebc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Ended up deciding to cut another 3 acres of free 2nd cut grass in that silly steep field that I get on Monday night baled it Tuesday very green before rain. last cut 19th July I normally only take 1 cut off it and leave it at that to grow back in over winter as I can’t get stock to it but there was loads on it this time so I’ve robbed it but will put some muck on this year and give it 9 months to recover View attachment 909906View attachment 909908
10 bales in total
There was a bit off a crappy 3/4 bale of the steep bit with a bit of soil from moles so put that out to cows on a steep mossy patch and spread out to rummage through see what happens.
Will probably feed these bales straight out outside as cows will crap thin off it so better off outside rather than inside when trying to keep things dry.View attachment 909909
In the holistic context of things of making things easier the new geared reels arrived. Seem decent enough View attachment 909907
And bought a calving gate to go in another shed where I don’t have any yokes.
Had to many near misses with cows moving around with calving aid out the back.
Safety comes first now. View attachment 909905

I need to have a proper study now around the farm to make things as easy and quick as possible for a one man band.
Main reason being is that pops (my main help) is going to have isolate a lot more now as my kid brother has just been informed his brain cancer has returned for the 3rd time so is going through some more chemo treatment over winter and he’s his main carer so need to keep him away from as many bugs as possible.
Plus I’ve got a young family now so even the misses can’t help right much as she has the little one to look after.
Main problem is the weekly muck out of the cow shed which is a 2 man job.
I'm very sorry to hear about your brother.
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
Yes, pretty fortunate there, mate. Had a bit of a shuffle tonight, we kicked out the Nuffield and built a feeder calf pen in the 'tractor shed', which will give us a small pen (for cows + calves) and a big pen for the hoggs.

I gave a mate a hand this afternoon to prepare her place for the storm (putting out oat baleage out in her paddocks, her tractor has no hydraulics and I couldn't figure out why) and she filled the fuel tank and gave me a couple of bales as payment.
Fine friends 😀
 

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
Ended up deciding to cut another 3 acres of free 2nd cut grass in that silly steep field that I get on Monday night baled it Tuesday very green before rain. last cut 19th July I normally only take 1 cut off it and leave it at that to grow back in over winter as I can’t get stock to it but there was loads on it this time so I’ve robbed it but will put some muck on this year and give it 9 months to recover View attachment 909906View attachment 909908
10 bales in total
There was a bit off a crappy 3/4 bale of the steep bit with a bit of soil from moles so put that out to cows on a steep mossy patch and spread out to rummage through see what happens.
Will probably feed these bales straight out outside as cows will crap thin off it so better off outside rather than inside when trying to keep things dry.View attachment 909909
In the holistic context of things of making things easier the new geared reels arrived. Seem decent enough View attachment 909907
And bought a calving gate to go in another shed where I don’t have any yokes.
Had to many near misses with cows moving around with calving aid out the back.
Safety comes first now. View attachment 909905

I need to have a proper study now around the farm to make things as easy and quick as possible for a one man band.
Main reason being is that pops (my main help) is going to have isolate a lot more now as my kid brother has just been informed his brain cancer has returned for the 3rd time so is going through some more chemo treatment over winter and he’s his main carer so need to keep him away from as many bugs as possible.
Plus I’ve got a young family now so even the misses can’t help right much as she has the little one to look after.
Main problem is the weekly muck out of the cow shed which is a 2 man job.
I have a head gate just like that and it works well, rigged it up on an RSJ and have a side gate that can be folded back, I have a rope on the head latch so it can be pulled shut from behind and the whole lot can be folded against the side of the shed to save room when not in use, will find the photos later if its of any help
 

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
We just yoke them, and the side gates on the crush open, one swings from the front and the other from behindView attachment 909928
not the perfect setup as it could make them yard-shy, Ideally I would have a little box on wheels I could set up in the field rather than needing to bring the cow + calves in. But it works.
Would like a pic of your setup though @Henarar (y)
will find some later, set it up much the same as yours so both sides can be swung out the way but I wanted ours on the bedded area in the shed as I think it is better for calving or making a calf suck, most times we don't have to use for most but it is handy and safer
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
will find some later, set it up much the same as yours so both sides can be swung out the way but I wanted ours on the bedded area in the shed as I think it is better for calving or making a calf suck, most times we don't have to use for most but it is handy and safer
Our crush is on a concrete pad, so the weigh bars and platform sit level for weighing - which really makes it a nuisance for getting a calf to drink as the pic above shows - they have their front feet on the pad and their bum downhill, and don't get the right crook in their neck. Can cause scoury calves if the esophageal (sp?) groove isn't shut.

But I just put a handful of coaldust in their mouths and they don't scour long (it's really charcoal dust I should add) as it binds them up well

Luckily our girls are good enough that you yoke them up, give them a few handfuls of barley and a brush-down, and they take a calf. White girl out in the paddock with Silver already, with their calves sucking merrily
 

Karliboy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Yorkshire
Just setting up right now
0BDE19BF-A696-4764-8633-A3398E9FC7A5.jpeg
1CA16364-FDC4-4834-8067-D800217C4A82.jpeg
63F05187-FE31-485B-9086-1DAC13C035E4.jpeg

this is how mine is going to be I think.
Bolted the hinges from pillar to swing both ways.
Scaffold pole wile be into a hole in floor and bolted to rsj for other side of yoke to fasten to.
rsj will be plated down the wall just so it can’t slide anywhere if something starts to shove and pull.
can then mount a gate to pole to create a little race with a rope like @Henarar to close yoke from behind.
Should be able to use setup from both sides hopefully and everything should be a 1 man job hopefully.
im on the lookout for a new crush too for tb testing in the yard outside.
My 18 self locking yokes are great for general use but not the best/safest way for tb testing as there’s to much movement from the cattle.

with regards to tb I’ve just had a stroke off luck this month as everyone in my hillside has just been put into a 12 month testing restriction as there has been a local inconclusive breakdown.
I have just scrapped out off the restriction zone by the skin off my teeth thankfully so still on 4 yearly.
Poor buggers have to test everything 3 times in 12 months now it will be a right ball ache for some folk.
 

Sharpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Just setting up right nowView attachment 909944View attachment 909945View attachment 909946
this is how mine is going to be I think.
Bolted the hinges from pillar to swing both ways.
Scaffold pole wile be into a hole in floor and bolted to rsj for other side of yoke to fasten to.
rsj will be plated down the wall just so it can’t slide anywhere if something starts to shove and pull.
can then mount a gate to pole to create a little race with a rope like @Henarar to close yoke from behind.
Should be able to use setup from both sides hopefully and everything should be a 1 man job hopefully.
im on the lookout for a new crush too for tb testing in the yard outside.
My 18 self locking yokes are great for general use but not the best/safest way for tb testing as there’s to much movement from the cattle.

with regards to tb I’ve just had a stroke off luck this month as everyone in my hillside has just been put into a 12 month testing restriction as there has been a local inconclusive breakdown.
I have just scrapped out off the restriction zone by the skin off my teeth thankfully so still on 4 yearly.
Poor buggers have to test everything 3 times in 12 months now it will be a right ball ache for some folk.
Can I suggest that you find out what spanners fit the bolts on the adjustable/ removable side of the yoke and hang them up on the beam above the yoke along with a hammer. If a cow goes down you might need them in a hurry. Probably 2 x 17mm but some of those yokes use 16mm headed bolts.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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